Lemek Leads Lax Over Daniel Webster in Season Opener

NASHUA, N.H. – Junior Hannah Lemek (Bristol, Conn.) registered eight goals and an assist to lead the University of Saint Joseph lacrosse team over the Daniel Webster Eagles, 14-7, in the Blue Jays' 2017 season opener on Tuesday afternoon. The game was played on Raider Field at Rivier University. It marks the first time in program history the Blue Jays have won their season opener and it is the first career win as a collegiate head coach for first-year head coach Erin Doherty.

USJ (1-0) raced out to an early 4-0 lead over the first five minutes of play behind three goals from Lemek, two of which came on free position shots, and never looked back en route to scoring 11 first half goals. The Blue Jays dominated the first half of play and took an 11-3 advantage into halftime. Lemek finished the opening 30 minutes of the season with six goals and an assist.

Daniel Webster (0-1) got on the board first to open the second half with an unassisted goal by Madeline Roulier (Pittsfield, Mass.), but sophomore Diamond Walden (Hartford, Conn.) answered right back with her second goal of the game to make it 12-4 in favor of the Blue Jays. The Eagles would outscore USJ 4-3 in the second half, but the hot start by Lemek and Blue Jays was more than enough to secure the eventual 14-7 final.

Lemek finished with eight goals and an assist, adding 13 draw controls and three ground balls, while senior Vicky Thai (West Hartford, Conn.) picked up three goals in the victory. Wallen scored twice and caused three turnovers.

Roulier paced Daniel Webster with five goals, three of which came in the first half. Rebecca Hoffman (Andover, Mass.) netted the remaining two Eagle strikes. Christina Hem (Lowell, Mass.) posted three ground balls.

Junior Emily Bourassa (Bristol, Conn.) made nine saves between the pipes for St. Joseph in her season debut to move to 1-0 on the season. Diamond Majett (Philadelphia, Penn.) stopped 10 shots in her first career game in goal for the Eagles.

USJ outshot DWC 27-17 overall (24-16 on goal) and used a decisive 18-5 advantage off the draw to control both the tempo and the clock throughout the bulk of the first half to build the 11-3 lead at the break. St. Joseph was also very efficient on free position shots, converting 5-of-7 attempts in the win.

The USJ lacrosse team will return to action next when they open Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play this Saturday, March 25 on the road at Mount Ida. The opening draw is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.